Scholz' four new guidelines: Chancellor explains Ukraine course - in the style of Söder
Created: 05/08/2022, 22:37
By: Andreas Schmid
Markus Söder (left) and Olaf Scholz after a Corona summit.
Did the Chancellor imitate the CSU boss in his TV speech.
© Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa (archive photo)
Olaf Scholz is listening to the public.
The chancellor speaks on television about the Ukraine war - and stylistically follows Markus Söder.
Berlin - Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder likes to work with lists in his press conferences.
The CSU leader is strikingly focused on what he believes needs to be done now.
In his PK on the new Corona course, Söder said, for example: “First of all: a basic precautionary package for masks or keeping your distance is needed.
Second: an emergency strategy is needed for autumn.”
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is better known for more cryptic sentences.
A rhetoric expert attested to the SPD politician's "refreshingly boring" style
in an interview with
Merkur.de .
Specifically: "Knowledge of the files, objectivity, a balanced word".
Now Scholz turned to the population in a TV speech, remained largely true to his style – but integrated those Söderesque enumerations into his speech.
Scholz's speech on Ukraine: "Never again war.
Never again genocide"
Scholz spoke on Sunday evening about the end of the Second World War.
On May 8, 1945, the "disastrous history of our country between 1933 and 1945" ended, as Scholz said.
In his eight-minute speech, he made a direct reference to the current situation in Ukraine.
It is clear: “We cannot commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe without facing the fact that there is war in Europe again.
Russia unleashed this war.”
Thereupon he undertook the first enumeration.
"Never again war.
Never again genocide.
No more tyranny.” In linguistics, this repetition of a term at the beginning of consecutive sentences is called an anaphora.
The aim of such linguistic tricks is to anchor statements more firmly in memory.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) gives a television address to the nation on the war in Ukraine © Britta Pedersen/dpa/Pool/dpa
Ukraine war: Scholz explains "four clear principles for politics"
The Chancellor then explained Germany's position in the Ukraine war.
"We defend justice and freedom - on the side of the attacked.
We support Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.” Germany is helping Ukraine “so that the violence can come to an end”.
Scholz defended the course of the federal government, for example with a view to arms deliveries, even if "we don't just (do) everything that one or the other demands." Because: "In my oath of office I swore to avert damage from the German people.
This includes protecting our country and our allies from danger.
Four clear principles follow from this for politics. ”Scholz now presented the German Ukraine course in short, emphatically clear sentences.
“First: no German solo efforts.
Whatever we do, we coordinate closely with our allies - in Europe and across the Atlantic."
“Second, in everything we do, we take care to maintain our own defense capability.
And we have decided to equip the Bundeswehr much better so that it can continue to defend us in the future.”
"Third: We are not doing anything that harms us and our partners more than Russia."
“And fourthly: We will not make any decision that will turn NATO into a war party.
It stays that way.”
The chancellor, whose Ukraine policy has not always been applauded recently, apparently wanted to be as clear as possible and, as so often requested, to explain his course.
The Hanseatic looks into the camera with a serious expression.
It remains to be seen whether his messages will be understood.
In any case, Scholz indirectly mentioned the major points of contention in Germany's Ukraine policy: first (and second) the extent of the arms deliveries, thirdly the reluctance to introduce a gas embargo and fourthly also a no to sensitive steps such as a no-fly zone repeatedly demanded by Ukraine.
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